A head-to-head look at two of the most-chartered aircraft in the heavy jet class.
GULFSTREAM
The Gulfstream GIV-SP defined the intercontinental heavy-jet segment — Rolls-Royce Tay engines, three living areas and 4,220 nm of nonstop range. Still a workhorse of the global charter fleet.
FULL GULFSTREAM GIV-SP PAGE →GULFSTREAM
The Gulfstream G500 introduced the industry's first active-control sidestick on the Symmetry flight deck and brings 5,300 nm of range to the heavy-jet class. Three living zones, panoramic Gulfstream windows and a 4,850 ft cabin altitude.
FULL GULFSTREAM G500 PAGE →SPECIFICATIONS
| METRIC | GIV-SP | G500 |
|---|---|---|
| Passengers | 14 | 13–19 |
| Range | 4,220 nm | 5,300 nm |
| Cruise speed | Mach 0.80 | Mach 0.90 |
| Cabin height | 6'2" | 6'3" |
| Cabin width | 7'4" | 7'7" |
| Baggage | 169 cu ft | 175 cu ft |
| Runway | 5,450 ft | 5,200 ft |
CHARTER PRICING
| Geneva → New York | from CHF 62,000 |
| Dubai → London | from $64,000 |
| Geneva → Beijing | from CHF 128,000 |
| Dubai → London | from $58,000 |
All-inclusive indicative one-way pricing. Confirmed quote in 10 minutes.
EXPERT VERDICT
the G500 answers with range / non-stop reach, cabin comfort, group capacity, airport access and speed & block time. Both sit in the heavy jet class, so charter pricing is broadly aligned — let the use case (range, group size, airport pair) drive the final call.
Range / non-stop reach
G500
5,300 nm of range — the better choice for transcontinental and intercontinental missions.
Cabin comfort
G500
Taller and/or wider cabin (6'3" × 7'7") — better for long flights and stand-up movement.
Group capacity
G500
Seats up to 19 — the right pick when the manifest grows.
Airport access
G500
Shorter 5,200 ft balanced-field requirement — opens up restricted alpine, island and city-adjacent airfields.
Speed & block time
G500
Cruise of Mach 0.90 — shaves meaningful minutes off every long leg.
Verdict based on published manufacturer specifications, charter market data and Limitless Sky brokerage experience.
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Tell us your route — our desk returns a confirmed quote on both aircraft within 10 minutes, so you can compare like-for-like on your exact mission.
CHOOSE WITH CONFIDENCE
A tailored summary for the GIV-SP and G500: the deciding reasons in this matchup, plus the buyer archetypes each aircraft serves best.
GULFSTREAM
BEST FOR
Intercontinental sleep flights
Lie-flat berths for overnight Europe–US, Europe–Gulf and Asia legs.
10–14 passenger groups
Real space for a full delegation plus support staff.
Two-zone living
Separate work, dine and rest areas on flights over six hours.
Family relocations
Range and payload for one-stop global moves with significant baggage.
GULFSTREAM
BEST FOR
Longer non-stop reach
When the mission is on the edge of the GIV-SP's envelope, the 5,300 nm legs of the G500 keep reserves intact.
Larger party charters
Up to 19 seats vs 14 on the GIV-SP — the natural pick when the manifest grows last-minute.
Intercontinental sleep flights
Lie-flat berths for overnight Europe–US, Europe–Gulf and Asia legs.
10–14 passenger groups
Real space for a full delegation plus support staff.
PROS & CONS
GULFSTREAM
PROS
CONS
GULFSTREAM
PROS
CONS
REAL-WORLD MISSIONS
Four scenarios our charter desk sees regularly — and which of these two we would actually quote.
SCENARIO 01
Larger cabin seats the full group (13–19).
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 02
Larger cabin seats the full group (13–19).
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 03
Longer range (5,300 nm) wins the non-stop reach.
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 04
Larger cabin seats the full group (13–19).
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →ROUTE RECOMMENDATIONS
| ROUTE | DISTANCE | RECOMMENDED | WHY |
|---|---|---|---|
| London → New York | 3,000 nm | G500 | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| Paris → Dubai | 2,950 nm | G500 | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| Miami → São Paulo | 3,500 nm | G500 | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| Hong Kong → Sydney | 3,950 nm | G500 | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
Distances are great-circle approximations; actual fuel planning accounts for winds, weather and reserves.
FAQ
The Gulfstream GIV-SP has a published range of 4,220 nm; the Gulfstream G500 is rated at 5,300 nm. The longer-range aircraft opens up more non-stop city pairs without a tech stop.
Cruise speeds are Mach 0.80 for the Gulfstream GIV-SP and Mach 0.90 for the Gulfstream G500. On a Geneva → New York-style mission the faster aircraft typically saves 10–25 minutes block time.
The Gulfstream GIV-SP seats 14; the Gulfstream G500 seats 13–19. Charter prices below assume a typical executive layout — high-density configurations are available on request.
Indicative one-way pricing on a benchmark mission: Gulfstream GIV-SP from from CHF 62,000, Gulfstream G500 from from CHF 128,000. Confirmed quote in 10 minutes — pricing varies with empty-leg availability, season and routing.
Both belong to the Heavy Jet category, but range, payload and runway performance differ. See the route-recommendations table on this page for our specific pick per corridor.
MORE COMPARISONS
GIV-SP × G500 CLUSTER
CHARTER EITHER AIRCRAFT
WHERE THESE AIRCRAFT FLY
EDITORIAL GUIDES
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